"The Ultimate Fighter 7 " episode nine recap

We now enter Round 2 of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest” as the show’s quarterfinals kick off in tonight’s episode.

The eight preliminary winners will now be whittled down to four semifinalists, and tonight, two of the four quarterfinal fights — consisting of all Team Forrest fighters — take place.

Because Team Forrest dominated the first round and advanced six of its eight fighters, the episode begins with Dana White telling coach Forrest Griffin that he needs to send two fighters to Quinton Jackson’s team so each fighter has a corner team. Forrest refuses, so they opt to flip a coin. As a result, Matt Brown and Dante Rivera are shipped to Team Jackson while their respective opponents, Amir Sadollah and Jesse Taylor, stay put with Team Forrest.

Back at the house, we catch a glimpse of muscle-bound Jesse’s strict diet: hamburgers, donuts and beer. “A genetic freak” is what one castmate calls him.

To prep for his fight, Jesse needs to cut weight, so he slips on the plastic suit and partakes in some high-energy table tennis. It’s good for “two or three pounds,” he says. Urinating in the high tub is good for a few more.

Before we know it, it’s back to the gym for the fight as Jesse (6-2) meets Dante (10-2). It’s a trip to the semifinals for the winner.

After a touch of the gloves, we’re underway. Dante whiffs with an early punch, and Jesse ducks and scores the double-leg takedown. Dante keeps him tied up in full guard initially, but Jesse rises to his knees and lands some well-placed punches. He follows with hammerfists and elbows while slipping out to half-guard. Jesse continues with elbows and combinations as Dante fails to tie him up. Two minutes in, Jesse is dominating this fight. As Dante tries a back-door exit, Jesse closes the distance and continues the assault from full guard. More punches and elbows — followed by a big right hand — don’t prompt Dante to try anything differently, though. Dante finally kicks free to create some distance, and though Jesse briefly stands up, he quickly swarms back to the ground with punches and elbows and settles in full guard. Jesse continues delivering major shots through the last minute of the round and puts the exclamation point on it with a combination of punches before the bell sounds. It’s all Jesse, with a likely 10-8 round.

Round two is underway, and Dante is battered but light on his feet. However, Jesse quickly shoots and secures the takedown and lands in the familiar full guard. He starts with stiff rights and a few elbows, but Dante finally throws a couple shots from below. However, they do little damage, and Jesse continues tagging his opponent with punch after punch. Rampage yells for Dante to kick to create some room to escape, but Jesse keeps a close distance while raining down punches. After a warning from the referee to advance positions, Jesse is amazed that he actually stands them up seconds later. No worries, though. After Dante whiffs on a sloppy left hook, Jesse ducks and again takes him to the mat. The assault slows, but the effect is all the same as Jesse connects on elbow strikes and consistent right punches. Dante tries to tie him up, but Jesse powers out of it to rain down additional blows. With a minute remaining and pushed against the fence, Dante can no longer manuever for a submission or escape attempt. Jesse continues battering him with punches from half guard to close out the round. It’s all Jesse for what should be another 10-8 round and a 20-16 victory.

After watching the highlights — and some lowlights — it’s made official: Jesse gets the unanimous-decision victory.

Back at the house, the attention turns to the Matt vs. Amir fight. The roommates are buddies, but Matthew Riddle wants to hype the upcoming bout as potential record-book material. Spike TV has played along and has been hyping the “fight we’ve all been waiting for” throughout the week. Everyone’s expecting fireworks.

Once at the gym, Amir admits that Matt is “out to kill me.” Training with Matt, Rampage says he loves his new fighter’s “samurai spirit.”

The weigh-ins present no surprises, and on fight day, Matt predicts a stand-up war in which he and Amir each “beat the [expletive] out of each other.” Matt says he’s the better fighter and that Amir knows it.

As expected, the two buddies touch gloves, and we’re underway. Matt lands an early body kick, but Amir pushes him back with a front kick. Matt then swarms in for a combination, and after sidestepping a kick, lands a big right hand. After trading shots, the fighters clinch, and Matt lands a knee to the body before Amir returns the favor. Matt dips and tries for the takedown, but Amir masterfully fends it off for the next half minute. Matt keeps him pushed against the fence before failing on another takedown attempt. He finally gives up on the idea and simply tags Amir with a series of punches. Back to the center of the cage, both fighters connect on punches, though Matt gets the better of it as his reach advantage becomes obvious. After another clinch, Matt breaks it off and the fighters return to the center of the cage once again. Matt peppers his opponent with jabs and wild hooks before Amir answers with a combination and a flying knee that partially connects. Clinched again, the fighters trade knees to the body before Amir seems to do some damage with a standing elbow strike. Matt covers up as Amir follows with punches, but he springs back to life, sticks his opponent with a right, and then scores the trip-takedown. The fighters stay clinched as an exciting and fast-paced round comes to an end. Matt likely took it, 10-9.

The gym is hyped as round two begins, and Matt quickly lands some stiff punches and a kick that do damage. Amir attempts a near drop kick and then counters with punches of his own that land well. The two fighters clinch while each looks for a takedown. After a break, Matt lands a knee to the head and follows with some combinations while Amir back peddles. However, after a clinch, Amir scores the trip takedown and tries to transition into mount. Matt tries to fend it off, but Amir finally secures the dominant position and drops short elbows and punches to the body. Matt works the butterfly guard and kicks to create some distance, but he can’t escape, and Amir rains down punches. With Matt pinned against the fence, he continues delivering elbows and punches. After working for a choke, Matt tries to roll over and escape and finally claims top position. However, Amir quickly sinks in a triangle choke, and before you know it, Matt is forced to tap out. It’s a crazy ending to a great fight.

Dana praises the fight. Each fighter praises his opponent. The coaches praise the striking and transitions.

Back in the dressing room, it’s celebration time for Amir, who’s happy he won — and happy that Matt had a solid showing. Matt isn’t too disappointed with the loss and says he’s actually happy for his friend. “I gave it my best, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of when you give it your best,” he said.

Don’t forget about tomorrow’s “Ten TUF Questions” feature here at
MMAjunkie.com. We were only able to secure one of the two fighters, so if you have a question for Matt Brown, leave it
the comments section below. We’ll use the best ones for tomorrow’s
interviews. Also, don’t forget to check out the MMAjunkie.com blogs from Luke Zachrich and C.B. Dollaway. They’ll be posted late Thursday/early Friday this week.

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